straight axle - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**kwmech** · 04-09-2010, 11:52 PM

Truck in question. 1969 GMC 1 ton (ex motorhome class b). The front end is getting quite sloppy. thinking about the amount of work involved with spring replacement, x shafts, ball joints, tie rods, center link, disc brake conversion etc. Pondering converting to a straight axle. This would entail basically a Dana 60 front axle without the differential center section. Converting to leaf spring. and going with a spring under to keep the truck at a reasonable height to keep the flat bed workable. Building, fabrication and converting is not a problem as I have the skills to complete. Any suggestions or thoughts?

tecky11 · 04-10-2010, 01:00 AM

I havw a few questions for you, 1. is this an 8 on 6.5 bolt pattern? 2. find a Ford F450 or smilar style Chevy, Dodge truck with a kingPin style axle, ALL will have leaf springs. this will make the ride ruff, but eadier to maintain

63chevyll · 04-10-2010, 01:04 AM

yeah,
sounds like a lot of work.

How ever do you find the time to perform that conversion

**kwmech** · 04-10-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 63chevyll

yeah,
sounds like a lot of work.

How ever do you find the time to perform that conversion

Not much different that converting to 4wd, just eliminating the diff and the t-case. I'm also looking at the time and expense of tearing the complete front end down and rebuilding it. That also is a full days work and then some with the disc conversion

**kwmech** · 04-10-2010, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecky11

I havw a few questions for you, 1. is this an 8 on 6.5 bolt pattern? 2. find a Ford F450 or smilar style Chevy, Dodge truck with a kingPin style axle, ALL will have leaf springs. this will make the ride ruff, but eadier to maintain

Yeah, standard 8 lug. I'm currently looking into the super duty stuff and getting some measurements

BLAZERMAN · 04-10-2010, 12:55 PM

I have a magazine article here where a guy did that conversion only he used Dana 44 knuckles. He was gaining clearance for a Detroit 4-53. The trucks stance wasnt bad...I would think going spring under might set you to low.

addicted2dunes · 04-10-2010, 01:06 PM

Why not just run a straight axle tube? Like the 2wd Ford F450-550's. It's the same as a front differential minus the actual differential part. Just has a tube going from left to right. Still solid axle but doesn't have all the diff guts.

CE20934 · 04-10-2010, 01:24 PM

The mid-'90s C3500HD chassis has a kingpin straight axle too.

**kwmech** · 04-10-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by addicted2dunes

Why not just run a straight axle tube? Like the 2wd Ford F450-550's. It's the same as a front differential minus the actual differential part. Just has a tube going from left to right. Still solid axle but doesn't have all the diff guts.

That's exactly what I was thinking of building with Dana 60 stuff. I will gain a much larger wheel bearing and still retain the same disc brakes and calipers as factory uses on the '71 +

**kwmech** · 04-10-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CE20934

The mid-'90s C3500HD chassis has a kingpin straight axle too.

Gonna have to check that out for fit and WMS

Dark Knight · 04-10-2010, 10:23 PM

Why not just use an I-beam axle? There's probably a company that sells them already modified with disc brakes for the older Chevy's.

04-09-2010, 11:52 PM	#1
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,599	straight axle Truck in question. 1969 GMC 1 ton (ex motorhome class b). The front end is getting quite sloppy. thinking about the amount of work involved with spring replacement, x shafts, ball joints, tie rods, center link, disc brake conversion etc. Pondering converting to a straight axle. This would entail basically a Dana 60 front axle without the differential center section. Converting to leaf spring. and going with a spring under to keep the truck at a reasonable height to keep the flat bed workable. Building, fabrication and converting is not a problem as I have the skills to complete. Any suggestions or thoughts?

04-10-2010, 01:00 AM	#2
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Re: straight axle I havw a few questions for you, 1. is this an 8 on 6.5 bolt pattern? 2. find a Ford F450 or smilar style Chevy, Dodge truck with a kingPin style axle, ALL will have leaf springs. this will make the ride ruff, but eadier to maintain

04-10-2010, 01:04 AM	#3
63chevyll gets board easy....... Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 717	Re: straight axle yeah, sounds like a lot of work. How ever do you find the time to perform that conversion

04-10-2010, 12:55 PM	#6
BLAZERMAN Currently Blazerless Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: St. Joseph Mo. Posts: 4,828	Re: straight axle I have a magazine article here where a guy did that conversion only he used Dana 44 knuckles. He was gaining clearance for a Detroit 4-53. The trucks stance wasnt bad...I would think going spring under might set you to low. __________________ 1972 C/30 133" W.B. C&C 1970 GMC 3500 157" W.B. single wheel C&C

04-10-2010, 01:06 PM	#7
addicted2dunes Insane In The Membrane Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orcutt, CA Posts: 446	Re: straight axle Why not just run a straight axle tube? Like the 2wd Ford F450-550's. It's the same as a front differential minus the actual differential part. Just has a tube going from left to right. Still solid axle but doesn't have all the diff guts. __________________ Cameron Gunlock Project: ALTER-K-TION ('57 GMC Quad Cab) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=393750

04-10-2010, 01:24 PM	#8
CE20934 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Help! I'm in an office park with its own network of freeways! Posts: 470	Re: straight axle The mid-'90s C3500HD chassis has a kingpin straight axle too. __________________ '67 C20--427 tall deck/SM420, 4.10 HO52 (Michigan has not been kind to the Old Man) '95 Caprice--355 LT1/T56/3.42 8.5" 10-bolt (daily driver, almost 300k on the chassis) '07 Outback--wife's car. 125k & counting. No head gasket or transmission issues yet. fingers crossed

04-10-2010, 10:23 PM	#11
Dark Knight Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleak, Texas Posts: 420	Re: straight axle Why not just use an I-beam axle? There's probably a company that sells them already modified with disc brakes for the older Chevy's. __________________ -1967 Chevrolet Fleetside LWB- 350 V8 w/thumpr cam, NV3500, 3.08 gears, A/C, PS -1983 Chevy Silverado C1500- 383 stroker, TH400 -1989 Chevy Silverado K1500 SWB- 5.3L swap, 700R4, 3.42 gears -And a '66 Ford Mustang- 200 I6, C4 trans, rust bucket "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." -FDR (and maybe rust too) You've gotta be able to stop and steer before you can go fast!

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